Essential Baby Gear

Leaving the hospital with your newborn baby is exciting and scary all at the same time! As a new parent, you have a lot of responsibility on your shoulders. When it comes to meeting the needs of your child, you have to be prepared.

Before you can even bring your baby home, having certain baby gear in place will make the process much smoother.

Not only an essential piece of furniture, but a requirement by law is a newborn car seat. For newborns, rear facing car seats are required before they can leave the hospital. By the age of 1, a front facing car seat can be used and at 2 years of age, you can place your child in a booster seat.

Though convertible models are available, you may want to stick with a design specifically created for newborns for the most accident protection.

Other essential items to have before bringing your baby home include bottles. If you plan on nursing your baby, bottles that can be attached to breast pumps are convenient. For mothers using formula, a cow based, soy based or hypoallergenic formula can be also be used. Look for an iron fortified formula to make sure your baby develops correctly. Be sure to check with your child's doctor on the correct formula to use.

Babies will grow out of newborn sizes almost immediately so most parents already have on hand the next larger size clothing. One piece bodysuits are comfortable for the baby and easy for parents to get on and off. Multiple bibs will also be needed to keep babies from drooling and spitting all over their clothing. Blankets can be used for warmth and socks are essential for keeping babies feet warm. A cap or bonnet will be needed for going out in the cold or offering protection on a sunny day.

Pacifiers are soothing and give babies something safe to suck on which can often help them fall asleep. Make sure to pick a pacifier measuring 1.5 inches or greater to avoid a choking hazard and avoid any liquid filled pacifiers which can be harmful if the liquid is released. Either silicon or latex type pacifiers are safe to use, try several different types to see which your child prefers.

Regardless of whether your newborn is sharing your bedroom for the first few months or sleeping in its own room, furniture is needed. A cradle or bassinet is fine for the first few months when a newborn is mostly unable to roll around, but a crib will be needed as your baby grows.

There are safety concerns to consider before buying a crib: slats should be set at no more than 2 3/8 inches apart; mattress should fit snugly into the crib. A musical mobile is a popular toy that attaches to the crib, and can help entertain your baby as he or she falls asleep.

A pram, pushchair or stroller is also great for freeing up your hands when shopping or visiting family with your baby, though called different names these items are basically the same. Look for foldable prams to easily transport in your car, you can also pick between prams where the child lays flat or sits up depending on your preference.

One of the best ways to have your newborn near you but allow you to complete chores around the house is a bouncer seat or swing seat. These seats can usually accommodate babies up to 6 months old and keep them entertained with music, lights, toys and a soothing swinging or bouncing motion.